wfn.org | ELCA Youth Workers Hold 'Youth Extravaganza'

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 14, 2000

ELCA YOUTH WORKERS HOLD 'YOUTH EXTRAVAGANZA'
00-28-MR

     ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Youth workers of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA), committed to strengthening the Christian faith
lives of young people and their families, gathered here for the fourth
annual "Youth Extravaganza 2000" Feb. 4-7.
     The extravaganza is an annual training event sponsored by the ELCA
Youth Ministry Network -- an organization of 1,500 youth ministry
professionals from ELCA congregations and other expressions of the
church that provide leadership in youth ministry.
     "The training helped participants increase their capacity for
effective leadership in youth ministries," said the Rev. Nathan C.
Frambach, associate director for youth ministries and leadership, ELCA
Division for Congregational Ministries.  Frambach is a member of the
Youth Ministry Network.
     More than 30 workshops were featured at the Extravaganza.  Topics
ranged from global mission opportunities for young people to developing
family faith rituals.  About 650 youth workers participated in keynote
presentations, worship and workshops.
     "The importance of a teacher is the ability to recognize a special
element in a child.  Pay attention to what is important to them," said
Lorraine Monroe, executive director and founder of the School Leadership
Academy at the Center for Educational Innovation, New York, a keynote
presenter.
     "Youth workers do the plan but God does the work.  This event
provides the opportunity for you to assess who you are.  Ask yourself,
'what is my work and why do I do it?" Monroe told youth workers.
     "Everything you say can either uplift or bring down a child.
After being with you are children wiser, freer and more autonomous?  Are
youth any different after being with you?  Youth workers should be the
way, not get in the way.  Take away obstacles that do not permit youth
to grow.  A child can survive almost anything, as long as there is
someone waiting for them," Monroe said.
     Leonard Sweet, dean of the theological school at Drew University,
Madison, N.J., led a keynote presentation.  "You and I are living in a
time where the change in technology will have a bigger worldwide impact
than fire and the wheel combined," he said.  Sweet said if youth workers
want to reach people [under 30 years of age], "you've got to begin where
Jesus began -- with images."
     "We need to refer to Jesus' method of communication, which was
storytelling and images.  Images have more power than words," Sweet
said.  "The Christian faith is built on an image -- Jesus Christ, the
very image of God.  In this society we have material fullness, spiritual
emptiness.  If God so loved the world, why can't the church?"
     Other keynote speakers included the Rev. Pamela R. Fickenscher,
pastor of The Spirit Garage, Minneapolis, an ELCA congregation of people
between the ages of 20 and 35, and the Rev. David R. Ellingson, ELCA
congregational ministry coordinator, Seattle.  Frambach preached the
sermon at closing worship.
     "A family faith ritual is a repeated activity that gives meaning
and shares values from one generation to another," said Ellingson in a
workshop.  "Rituals develop over time, but often are not taught.
Rituals contain symbols and images," he said.
     The Rev. Jane Prestbye, Kent Lutheran Church, Kent, Wash., led
Bible study.  The Rev. Roland D. Martinson, a professor of pastoral care
at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., led "Breakfast Round Table"
discussions.
     The Extravaganza featured music from Ken Medema, Celia Whitler,
Jonathan Rundman, the Peter Eide Band, Buck, The Pool Boys and Removed.
     The ELCA Youth Ministry Network is governed by a board of
directors, which met after the Extravaganza Feb. 7.  At the meeting Todd
Buegler, youth director at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Maple Grove,
Minn., was elected president of the network.  He succeeds the Rev. Tom
Hunstad, Westwood Lutheran Church, St. Louis Park, Minn.
     "Youth ministry is a grand profession inspired by God," Hunstad
told participants at the Extravaganza.  "Ask not what this network can
do for you, but what you can do for your network."
     Hunstad said the future of the network will rely on "elegant
alignment, positive networking, solid leadership and spiritual support."
He said the mission of the network is to "strengthen and empower" youth
ministry leaders in "service to Christ."  Youth ministry leaders,
volunteer and paid, are supported, encouraged and trained by the church,
he said.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html